Sanding carb bowls?

[Scotty P.]

I've got a 99 Johnson 150 ocean pro that seems to be leaking around the top of the bowls. I can clean it all with carb cleaner and after a short run on the water or on the hose they will be wet. Bowls look like they might be worped. I've read where some people say to wet sand the bowls to make them true again for a better seal. I've noticed a little ridge on top of bowls. Will it still seal with this sanded off? I'm hoping this will help with some starting issues I'm having. Figured if its leaking its letting air in. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rrw]

Re: Sanding carb bowls?

That's funny you bring this up, I just pulled the plastic bowls off my 88 Johnson, they are noticeably warped, took them to the local dealer he said new bowls are like $109 ea. He said just lay some sand paper on glass (the flatest surface there is I guess) and sand away the high spots, so I'm got some 220 sand paper gonna give it a try. Not sure on the ridge you mention. I'll take a closer look at mine and post results. Ryan

 

[Scotty P.]

Re: Sanding carb bowls?

Yeah mine has got a ridge or lip at top of bowl, I guess to help seal along with gasket.
Thanks!!

 

[boobie]

Re: Sanding carb bowls?

The ridge was put there for a reason. You can try sanding them, putting the carbs back together with new bowl gaskets and see what happens. It's worth a try.

 

[rrw]

Re: Sanding carb bowls?

Well I finished sanding them, I see what you are talking about with the ridge, I probably ended up removing maybe 50-75% of the ridge, hard to tell. My bowl gaskets were the tan ones, and the seem to be in really good shape, havnt tested them yet but they pass the straight edge test. When you first start sanding look at the surface, you'll probably notice you're removing material from just the corners, keep going to till the whole thing is being sanded, should work. Ryan

 

[boobie]

Re: Sanding carb bowls?

When you sand, go in a figure 8 pattern.

 

[JDusza]

Re: Sanding carb bowls?

Get new gaskets, too.

 

[johnson89]

Re: Sanding carb bowls?

THIS WAS MY FIX AND HAS WORKED GREAT...1989 90hp johnson.....My last 3-5 fishing trips my motor was getting hard to start,it would not idle very well,but would run good at speed.Then I notice what looked like a gas leak from around the float bowl..I had rebuilt these's carb.s about a year ago,so I thought maybe the screws were loose,so I pulled the carbs off and all was tight,that when I seen where these plastic float bowls would warp and had to be replace at over 110.00 each...after a little thinking I decided to sand the bowl level..I used 600wet-dry paper,layed the paper on a hard smooth surface and with the water running starting sanding slowly,after about 10 min.s of sanding,I place the bowl on a piece of glass and it was so flat and level I could not even slide a piece of papaer under the bowl,I checked all the way around an it was 100% flat...put it all back together fill the carbs up with gas and NO LEAKS at all.I let it set for 2 day and still a perfect seal.I hook up the muffs and the motor started on first try and idels very smooth.Took it to the lake today and same thing,started 1st try and idels very good,it has never startd this easy before I guess it has always had a very small leak or had been sucking in air and just got worst....this fix cost me nothing ,already had the sand paper,took me about 2-3 hours to compete the repairs..I guess time will tell if this fix is good,but so far it looks good...I tired to load a pic. but something has change on this site and can not load from computer.......

 

[Scotty P.]

Re: Sanding carb bowls?

Curious if it worked for you?

 

[emckelvy]

Re: Sanding carb bowls?

I did the same thing to a '91 V4-115 that I rebuilt last year. Serviced the carbs and they were really nasty. Had 'em all nice & cleaned, reassembled and tested before reinstalling.

Both carbs leaked like a sieve and I couldn't believe how much those plastic float bowls cost! Said the Heck with it and sanded them flat. No different than truing-up a small outboard's head. Worked great, no leaks, customer was very happy about the $200+ savings!

Cheers.........ed